Inaugurated in October 2020, the Kitchen of the Year Design Contest was created to honour spaces that break new ground in kitchen design. The initiative was open to industry professionals across Australia, whose designs reflected the pursuit of excellence – a quality decisively associated with the contest’s initiator, Gaggenau.

Gaggenau appliances adorn the most luxurious kitchens worldwide and the contest offered Gaggenau an opportunity to recognise the design trailblazers behind some of those spectacular interiors. Here, we’re excited to reveal the designs that impressed the judges the most.

While an in-person event was not possible, the shortlisted entrants all joined a live Zoom presentation on Thursday 14 October. Hosted by Gaggenau’s General Manager Robert Warner and Senior Brand Communications Manager Olya Yemchenko, the winners and runners-up were able to share their insights into each project as it was announced. To add a special touch to the evening, all the shortlisters received a catering pack filled with gourmet treats to celebrate.

Best of the Best & Winner for Southern region – Fitzroy Project by Robert Nichol & Sons

Fitzroy Project by Robert Nichol & Sons, photo by Damien Kook

This unique design by Robert Nichol & Sons was not only named the Winner for the Southern region but also took the Best of the Best award, coming through as the overall contest’s winner.

“This competition is a great opportunity to showcase and reward excellence in kitchen design. It is heightened by the fact it is hosted by a brand regarded as an industry-leading producer of luxury kitchen appliances,” says David Nicholson, Director of Robert Nichol & Sons. “Kitchen design is often the most challenging of all the rooms of a home, so any opportunity to showcase and promote what we have achieved next to our peers is valuable and rewarding. We are very proud of this kitchen and feel honoured to be considered among so many strong contenders.”

David thinks that texture is one of the elements that made their design stand out. “It’s interesting that of the 12 finalists, we were the only entry to feature a wall tile. This is a feature that we consider a hallmark of our projects, and we love the opportunities they present, in this case, the strong vertical lines and rich colour,” he explains.

“Kitchen design is often the most challenging of all the rooms of a home, so any opportunity to showcase and promote what we have achieved next to our peers is valuable and rewarding.”

“Texture is something we love. We recognise it’s not just a tactile experience, but a visual one too. In a project such as a kitchen where there are so many disparate elements, we see texture as an opportunity to introduce a mix of finishes, creating strong surface variations and producing a focal point within the home.”

“Winning is amazing, not only as recognition for our design but also against the calibre of the fellow finalists,” David adds, “What we are seeing in this selection is just how far kitchen design has progressed, where kitchens have now become the statement piece for house design.”

Winner for Northern region – Hall 20 by Smart Design Studio

Smart Design Studio’s striking, monolithic kitchen was named the Winner for the Northern region. “Given the depth and strength of the Australian design industry, it was humbling to be shortlisted,” says Aaron Wooster, Smart Design Studio’s Head of Interiors, and adds that it is even more so to win above the other talented contenders.

Hall 20 by Smart Design Studio, photo by Romello Pereira

With sweeping harbour views and a robust kitchen island grounding the space, the refined Penthouse II design by Lawless & Meyerson was selected as the Runner-up for the Northern region. In reflecting the materiality of a period home, St Hubert’s elegant kitchen space by Robson Rak is the Runner-up for the Southern region.

St Huberts by Robson Rak, photo by Mark Roper

Penthouse II by Lawless & Meyerson, photo by Dave Wheeler

The sleek kitchen of the innovative Habitus Townhomes by DKO Architecture and the sophisticated space of Mathoura Road by Carr were both also recognised as the Commendations of this year’s contest.

97 Mathoura Road by Carr, photo by Ross Honeysett

Habitus Townhomes by DKO Architecture, photo by Timothy Kaye

Congratulations to all the winners, runners-up and commendations! It was an exceptional field of entries – see the full shortlist here.